AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and Intel Core 5 330 occupy different ends of the mobile processor spectrum, and the benchmark data reflects that divide clearly. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 records a 96th percentile standing among all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile. Across eleven head-to-head tests, the AMD part wins nine, with the Intel part taking two. The split is not subtle: the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 dominates every multi-threaded and compute-heavy workload, while the Core 5 330 claims a narrow but real victory in single-thread performance.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the clear winner in any workload that scales with core count, memory bandwidth, or parallel execution. Its largest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 152414 against the Intel part's 33258, a 358.3% advantage. Data compression shows a 281.8% lead with scores of 554760 versus 145287. Extended instructions, which test SIMD and specialized compute paths, favor AMD by 256.5% (45666 vs 12808). These are not marginal differences; they represent a processor that is operating in a different performance class for heavily threaded tasks.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only in single-threaded throughput. In the PassMark single-thread test, it scores 4088 against AMD's 3927, a 3.9% advantage. That is a modest edge, but it is consistent across both single-thread entries in the database. For tasks that rely on a single core and cannot use additional threads, the Intel part holds a slight advantage. This includes lightly threaded applications, older games, or workloads where latency on a single thread matters more than raw parallel throughput.

The AMD processor also dominates in floating-point math (99548 vs 43885, 126.8% lead), prime number finding (320 vs 114, 180.7% lead), and physics simulation (2887 vs 1201, 140.4% lead). Random string sorting, another parallel-friendly test, shows a 234.7% margin in favor of AMD. The pattern is consistent: any test that can use more cores, more threads, or wider memory access goes decisively to the Ryzen AI Max+ 392.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The thermal design power is 55 watts, and it fits into an AMD Socket FP11. The cache hierarchy is generous: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm².

The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The thermal design power is just 15 watts, and it uses an Intel BGA 1516 socket. Cache is much smaller: 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The architecture field is not listed in the database, but the generation is listed as Core 5 (Wildcat Lake).

Memory support further separates the two. The AMD part uses LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and supports ECC memory. The Intel part supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X but over a single-channel bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s, and does not support ECC. That bandwidth difference is enormous and directly explains why the AMD part wins so heavily in data compression and random string sorting, workloads that are sensitive to memory throughput.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The AMD processor offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different as well: AMD uses a Radeon 8060S, while Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a supported path for either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result in the head-to-head data is integer math. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 152414, which is 358.3% higher than the Intel Core 5 330's 33258. That is the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression follows at 281.8% (554760 vs 145287), and extended instructions at 256.5% (45666 vs 12808). These three tests alone establish the AMD part as a massively faster processor for general compute workloads.

Random string sorting shows a 234.7% lead for AMD (59487 vs 17771), which is consistent with the memory bandwidth advantage. The quad-channel LPDDR5X setup on the AMD part provides 256.0 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s on the Intel part, and sorting workloads are notoriously bandwidth-bound. The multithread score tells a similar story: AMD scores 45231 versus 15471, a 192.4% lead. The 24 threads versus 6 threads explain this gap directly.

Prime number finding favors AMD by 180.7% (320 vs 114), and data encryption by 150.8% (27784 vs 11076). Floating-point math shows a 126.8% lead (99548 vs 43885), and physics simulation a 140.4% lead (2887 vs 1201). In every one of these tests, the AMD processor is more than double the Intel part's score. The only tests where the Intel part wins are the single-thread tests, with a score of 4088 versus 3927, a 3.9% edge.

The average benchmark scores in the database put the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at 90541, versus 18345 for the Intel Core 5 330. The nearest rivals for the AMD part are the Intel Xeon 654 at 90717 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX at 91199 (0.7% behind), the Intel Xeon w7-2575X at 88172 (2.7% ahead), and the Intel Xeon 6736P at 87864 (3% ahead). The Intel Core 5 330's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18318 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core 7 360 at 18374 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18380 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core 3 305 at 18302 (0.2% ahead). The two processors are not competing in the same weight class.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct use cases. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the processor for heavy multi-threaded work: content creation, compilation, data processing, scientific computing, and any workload that can use 12 cores and 24 threads. Its 55 watt TDP and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth support sustained parallel performance. The 96th percentile standing among all CPUs confirms that this is a high-end part, competing near the level of Xeon-class processors in the database.

The Intel Core 5 330 is a low-power part, with a 15 watt TDP, designed for efficiency and light workloads. Its single-thread score of 4088 is respectable and even beats the AMD part by 3.9%, so for everyday responsive tasks with single-threaded code, it holds a slight edge. But its 6 cores and 6 threads, single-channel memory, and 6 MB of L3 cache limit it to entry-level mobile duties. The 72nd percentile standing places it in the mid-range of the database.

Users who need maximum parallel throughput should choose the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392. The benchmark results show no contest in any multi-threaded test. Users who prioritize single-thread responsiveness and operate within a very low power envelope may find the Intel Core 5 330 adequate, but the performance ceiling is much lower. The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 5 330 is $309. The AMD part has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 152414 versus 33258 for the Intel Core 5 330, a 358.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 330 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4088 against 3927 for the AMD part, a 3.9% advantage. It wins both single-thread entries in the head-to-head data.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 provides 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus. The Intel Core 5 330 provides 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X bus.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has an average benchmark score of 90541. The Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345.

Q: Which processor is in a higher performance percentile?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is in the 96th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 330 is in the 72nd percentile.